UPDATE 1-AIG profit beats estimates on lower costs, shares rise

Reuters Staff

3 Min Read

(Adds details, compares with estimates)

Aug 2 (Reuters) - American International Group Inc, the largest commercial insurer in the United States and Canada, reported an operating profit that beat analysts' estimate, driven by lower costs and strong underwriting during the quarter.

Shares of the company, whose board also authorized an additional $3 billion share buyback program, were up 2.5 percent at $55.50 in extended trading on Tuesday.

AIG, which was under fire from activist investor Carl Icahn to split into three independent companies, agreed to add billionaire investor John Paulson and a member nominated by Icahn to its board in February.

"Although there are a few outside voices urging us to move faster, I want to assure you that the AIG board is fully aligned with our strategy," Chief Executive Peter Hancock said in a memo to employees on Tuesday.

A ratio below 100 percent means an insurer earns more in premiums than it pays out in claims.

The adjusted accident year combined ratio in the personal insurance unit improved to 95 percent from 99.8 percent.

AIG, which traces its roots to a two-room office in Shanghai in 1919, reported a fall in net income from investments, reflecting the commodity downturn and the impact of sale of assets to return capital to shareholders.

AIG shares closed at $54.14 on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. (Reporting By Sudarshan Varadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Don Sebastian)